Light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation exerts anti-inflammatory action in murine thioglycolate-elicited macrophages stimulated by Bothrops jararacussu venom and by isolated PLA2s

Although the treatment currently recommended for snakebite accidents is serum therapy using antivenom, a need for adjunctive therapy associated with serum therapy for treating the local effects caused by snakebites is an effort of the WHO to reduce local signals and symptoms. Photobiomodulation with laser or LED therapy is one of the primary examples of adjuvant therapy to serum therapy to lessen these local effects caused by snakebite envenoming. For this purpose, the project aims to study the action of photobiomodulation with LED therapy in isolated thioglycolate-elicited macrophages stimulated with Bothrops jararacussu venom (BjV) and isolated bothropstoxins BthTX-I and BthTX-II focusing on cell dead mechanism such as necrosis and apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytokines [Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-6], and [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] and lipid mediator [prostaglandin (PG)E₂] liberation. Briefly, thioglycollate-elicited macrophages were harvested from Swiss male mice incubated with BjV or BthTXs irradiated or not with LED, and the following parameters were analyzed: necrosis and apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytokines, and lipid mediator liberation. Herein, results showed that LED therapy was able to decrease necrosis cell death, caspase-3 activity, and TNF-α liberation. In addition, LED therapy induces mitochondrial membrane potential and modulates gene expression of lipid mediators. In conclusion, the data of this study support the use of phototherapy as an adjuvant therapeutical approach in combination with serum therapy to mitigate the local effects resulting from snakebite envenoming.